Floor Spectra Estimates for an Industrial Special Concentrically Braced Frame Structure

Nonstructural components play an important role in the correct functioning of industrial facilities, which may suffer greatly from earthquake-induced actions, as demonstrated by past seismic events. Therefore, the correct evaluation of seismic demands acting upon them is of utmost importance when assessing or designing an industrial complex exposed to seismic hazard. Among others, nonlinear time history analyses (NLTHA) of structural systems including nonstructural elements and floor response spectra are well-known methods for computing these actions, the former being more accurate and the latter being less onerous. This work focuses on deriving floor spectra for a steel special concentrically braced frame (SCBF), which is a common type of lateral-load resisting system for industrial frames. The results are used to compute the seismic actions on a small liquid storage tank mounted on the case study frame. Additionally, the results are compared to those obtained by modeling the structure and the tank together, that is, by modeling the tank explicitly and incorporating it within the model of the support structure. To this end, a simple model, consisting of two uncoupled single degree-of-freedom systems, is used for the tank. The floor spectra resulting from both approaches are compared to establish differences in the behavior of the structure and nonstructural element/component. Finally, the seismic demand on the tank—obtained by direct and indirect analyses—is compared to that obtained by applying ASCE 7-10 and Eurocode 8 prescriptions.